Biography of George SnyderErie County, PA Biographies

George Snyder, grandfather of Bessie Jane (Snyder) Pinks, was born at Mahatonca, Dauphin County, Pa., March
9, 1799. His father, Thomas Snyder, died when he was about four years of age and he was raised by his maternal
grandfather, John Kepner, until he was 14 years of age, when he went to Harrisburg, Pa., to learn the trade of
a cabinetmaker. Although in a school room but three days in his life, he acquired a fair education. He came on
foot to Hartford, Ohio, in 1817, and purchased 70 acres of land from his. uncle, John Kepner, in lot nine, near
Messersmith's Corners, for the consideration of $300, on which he immediately built a house. When he was only 19
years of age he married Elizabeth Carnes, daughter of Godfrey Carnes, a Revolutionary soldier and pioneer of Mercer
County, Pa. Here he erected a shop and was the first cabinetmaker in the township; also working at the carpenter
business part of the time for some years. Their children, all born on this farm, were Mary, Margaret, Jane, Ruhama,
James, A. C., Uriah, and George W.

In October, 1835, he purchased an addition of two hundred and thirty seven acres of land lying east of his original
purchase, for the consideration of $1,513. On this land he erected a saw mill, which was run by water for 20 years,
when he purchased an engine and ran the mill by steam until 1858, when he sold the mill and 79 acres of this land
to his son, James, and the remainder of this tract to his sons, Uriah and Cornelius Snyder, and in 1861 sold his
old home of 70 acres, where he first settled, to Benjamin Messersmith, and removed to the center of the township,
purchasing the store and property formerly owned by G. L. Woodford, where he resided for a time, and carried on
a grocery store. This property he sold to Dr. Daniel Artherholt, and removed to Brookfield Township, where he resided
for a time, but being afflicted with paralysis, he sold his Brookfield property to his son, George, spending the
remainder of his days with his children, dying March 8, 1880, at the age of 81 years. Mrs. Snyder was born in 1795
and died June 6, 1859, at the age of 64 years.

George W. Snyder, the youngest son, was born Sept. 22, 1839. He spent his early life on his father's farm, and
attended district school till he had reached the age of 18 years. He then spent three years in Hartford Academy,
and one term in Folsom's Commercial College, Cleveland. He began the study of law in Hartford, and in the office
of L. C. Jones, now of Warren. He enlisted under the first call for volunteers in 1861, being the first man in
Hartford to offer his services, but the quota having been filled, he, like many others, was discharged without
being mustered in. In 1862 he again enlisted in the 84th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served with that regiment
four months. In 1867 Mr. Snyder was admitted to the bar and opened an office in Orangeville. He was elected mayor
of the village five successive times, and served as postmaster. Though his entire family belonged to the Democratic
party, Mr. Snyder, in 1860, cast his first vote for Lincoln, and has been an active Republican ever since. He has
been a member of every county convention and several state conventions since attaining his majority. He married
in 1871, Julia A Wilson, daughter of Nathaniel Wilson, of Orangeville. Both reside in that place. Mr. and Mrs.
Snyder have four children: Sharlie Lucy, born Feb. 3, 1876, died Sept. 5, 1897; Vera, born Oct. 29, 1879, married
L. H. Burr, of Erie; Blaine C., born June 14, 1881, married Agnes McFarland, lives at Orangeville, Ohio; and Mrs.
Pinks.

In politics Mr. Pinks is identified with the Republican party and he and his wife hold membership in the Unitarian
church. He is a member of the Masonic lodge.

From:
History of Erie County, Pennsylvania
By: John Elmer Reed
Historical Publishing Company
Topeka-Indianapolis
1925